And they should. Sure, both of their new IPs didn't sell as well as they hoped, but EA Europe's VP Patrick Soderlund thinks that they've done a good job with the titles, and says that they will be seen as successful for their lifetime performance.
In an interview with Gamasutra, Soderlund admits that their release timing could have been better:
They're both new IPs; it's hard to break new ground with new IPs, especially in that Q3 window, when you have games like Gears of War 2, Call of Duty 5, and a bunch of other really strong products with a 2, or 3, or 4, or 5 on it. So, I think that we could have done a better job as far as ship timing on, probably, both of those.
I really think that Dead Space was totally an issue of bad timing. In my mind, it was a polished game, and definitely a strong new IP. Soderlund says that EA "executed well on our quarter targets; probably better than we could have hoped for."
As for Mirror's Edge, it may have needed a bit more polish. Soderlund: "Is it perfect? No. Are there things in there that we will address for future versions? Absolutely. Was it a good first attempt? Yes! That's kind of how I summarize it."
EA, keep on keeping on. New IPs is where its at. Oh, and more Dead Space, please.
Contest:
12:20 PM on 03.04.2009
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I want Mirrors Edge but I am waiting for a price drop as a game I can beat in ~5 hours with little replay value didn't sit well with a full purchase.
Mirror's Edge was a fantastic game. It never frustrated me nor did the mechanics cheat me resulting my death. I think there was one real reason why Mirror's Edge sold poorly...
<RANT>
A 4 hour game for $60? Really? You're shitting me right? At least it has multiplayer chases and races... Ohh wait no it doesn't. What does it have? Time trial runs that REUSE the god damn areas I already played through? Weak. Some people may enjoy the time trials but there are a lot of other people who probably won't give a ****.
You're probably giving me that look now. The "Not every game needs multiplayer you idiot" look. The simple fact is there needs to be something to draw me back into the title after I've played in once. Fantastic single player games will get multiple plays from me (Wind Waker, Resident Evil 4, SM Sunshine, etc). Most games however I'm probably not going to be replaying anytime soon. Now I don't expect a game like bioshock to have multiplayer but damn it give me something beyond the 6 hours.
As graphics improve the problem just gets worse. Games get more expensive and at the same time shorter in length. Soon we'll reach the point where 5 hours will be the norm for $70. Then 4 hours for $80. It's no wonder people demand more these days.
For example Mass Effect had to be the shortest RPG I've ever played at about 15 hours (Doing side quests too). Also had the most repetitive content I might add. All the side planets you can explore look identical and share a set of 4 rooms with different box layouts inside to look different (You find the same room on multiple planets I mean. Pretty much defines Deja Vu). Very lazy when compared to Knights of the Old Republic which has side quests that were you know... Genuinely interesting. I actually wanted to complete them not for rewards but rather because they were fun. KotOR was also a 25-35 hour RPG. Whaaa? Non-repetative content and it's a longer game? Well I'll be damned.
</RANT>
Summary: Mirror's Edge lacks value at $60. Dead Space sold well from what I heard.
Maybe EA expected more sales?
Regardless, its nice to see them sticking with it.
Dead Space was freaking awesome. I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it. I loved the story and from combat to exploration, that game was amazing. The zero-gravity rooms blew a whole straight through my head. I had so much fun playing Dead Space without a dull moment at the least.
The visuals were stunning in both games. I would mos def play the sequals for either game (maybe be smart enough to rent mirror's edge if it is beatable in an hour again).
Both games were innovative unlike a ton of games that top charts these days. I loved them both and wish game developers would stop coming out with ridiculous amounts of sequals to games that died years ago... i'm looking at you need for speed and call of duty!!!
Mirror's Edge, on the other hand, while certainly frustrating and far from perfect was, to my mind, a groundbreaking entry into the first person genre that will be influencing the way games are made from now on. Just last night I was playing Killzone 2 and wishing my guy could pull himself over a chest high obstacle instead of having to run around it. In the future, I think many more games will have options like this and that they'll have Mirror's Edge to thank for it.
Plus, Mirror's Edge was just more fun.
How about try the game yourself instead of listening what other people have to say? Try renting it or something.
Exactly. All the publishers still have the mindset that the only time games sell is within the last few months of the year.